Since a similar recap at Policy Blog last December was found useful by some, here’s the latest Fact Sheet on Verizon’s $23 billion Fiber Optic network, FiOS: (Thanks, Mark.)

FiOS Highlights (and the full fact sheet below):

·         At the end of March 2007, Verizon had passed nearly 6.8 million homes and businesses – installing more than 417 million feet of fiber in parts of 16 states. 

·         Verizon expects to continue passing some 3 million premises annually through 2010, when the company expects to have passed about 18 million homes, or over half the homes it serves.

·         Verizon will begin boosting speeds and capabilities on its all-fiber network when it begins deploying advanced G-PON electronics in 2007.  This technology can increase downstream broadband speeds by up to four times, and upstream speeds by eight times.

·         At the end of March 2007, Verizon was marketing its high-speed FiOS Internet service – with downstream speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upstream speeds of up to 10 Mbps – in over 1,700 communities in all 16 states where the company is building its FTTP network.

·         Verizon had 864,000 FiOS Internet customers and 348,000 FiOS TV customers at the end of March 2007.

·         Verizon expects to attract up to 7 million FiOS Internet customers by year-end 2010 – a penetration rate of 35 percent to 40 percent.

·         At the end of March 2007, Verizon’s FiOS TV service was available to 3.1 million premises in 10 of the states

·         Verizon expects to attract from 3 million to 4 million FiOS TV customers by 2010, which would be a market penetration of 20 percent to 25 percent.

FiOS Facts:

Verizon is the only major U.S. telecom company building an advanced, all-digital fiber-optic network, on a mass scale, all the way to customers’ homes.  As a result, only Verizon's fiber-to-the- premises (FTTP) network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council.

Where is Verizon Deploying its FTTP Network?

·        At the end of March 2007, Verizon had passed nearly 6.8 million homes and businesses – installing more than 417 million feet of fiber in parts of 16 states.  

·        Verizon expects to continue passing some 3 million premises annually through 2010, when the company expects to have passed about 18 million homes, or over half the homes it serves.

·        Verizon will begin boosting speeds and capabilities on its all-fiber network when it begins deploying advanced G-PON electronics in 2007.  This technology can increase downstream broadband speeds by up to four times, and upstream speeds by eight times.

·        Verizon is investing nearly $23 billion in the FiOS project, between 2004 and 2010.

What Broadband Products is Verizon Delivering on its All-Fiber Network?

·        At the end of March 2007, Verizon was marketing its industry-leading, high-speed FiOS Internet service – with downstream speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upstream speeds of up to 10 Mbps – in over 1,700 communities in all 16 states where the company is building its FTTP network.

·        Verizon had 864,000 FiOS Internet customers at the end of March 2007.

·        Verizon expects to attract up to 7 million FiOS Internet customers by year-end 2010 – a penetration rate of 35 percent to 40 percent.

·        For more information on products and pricing, go to: http://www22.verizon.com/Content/ConsumerFiOS/

What Video Products is Verizon Delivering on its All-Fiber Network?

·        At the end of March 2007, Verizon’s all-digital FiOS TV service was available to 3.1 million premises in 10 of the states where the company is building FTTP:  California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

·        Verizon had 348,000 FiOS TV customers at the end of March 2007.

·        Verizon's FiOS TV delivers hundreds of digital video and music channels, high-definition programming, video-on-demand content, a robust interactive programming guide and other customer-friendly features. 

·        Verizon expects to attract from 3 million to 4 million FiOS TV customers by 2010, which would be a market penetration of 20 percent to 25 percent.

·        As of March 31, 2007, Verizon had over 760 local video franchises.  When the company begins selling its video services in all of the localities covered by the franchises, FiOS TV will be available to about 10 million households.  This now includes New Jersey, where the company has 344 communities covered by the new statewide video franchise law.  Verizon has announced it is already selling FiOS TV in 188 of the 344 New Jersey communities, and expects to announce more communities during 2007.

·        For more information on FiOS TV products and pricing, go to:

http://www.verizonfios.com/tv

May 2, 2007